How to Teach Why the Dynamic Definition of Planets is the best

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How to Teach Why the Dynamic Definition of
Planets is the best

• Alex Michael Leonard Klein
• Harold Alden Williams
• Montgomery College, Takoma Park/Silver Spring

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Lesson One Historical Definitions

• Seven Light, seven days
• Sun (a star), planets, and moons around planets
• Asteroids and Comets and 2002 AA29 (earths other
  moon?)
• 9 major planets or 15 major planets
• IAU definition August 2006 in Prague
• Now 8 major planets

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Lesson Two Geophysical Definition

• Size of planet Length/(radius or diameter)
• Size of planet Mass (kg or g or slugs)
• Average density (?M/Vmass/volume)
• Composition Chemical, state (plasma,
  gas/liquid/solid), mineral assemblage
• Shape, how round, hydrostatic equilibrium?

Aug 14-15, 2008
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Dynamic Definition of a Planet
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Lesson Three Size Definition

• Lower and Upper Bounds

Aug 14-15, 2008
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Dynamic Definition of a Planet
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Lesson Four Dynamical Definition

• Time, evolutionary changes in planets within
  significant time-frames
• Chaotic or non-Chaotic

Aug 14-15, 2008
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Dynamic Definition of a Planet
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Lesson Five The Good, the Bad, the Applicable
(maybe Ugly)

• Pros and Cons
• Future Discoveries
• Exo-Planets
• Dynamical Definitions and families of orbits

Aug 14-15, 2008
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Dynamic Definition of a Planet
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Title and Image Only Slide
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Same Thing but with Line Box around Figure
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Same Thing but Figure not included in box
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Slide with Text and Figure

• Lots of Diversity in the Solar System, and Lots
  of Color Too

• Objects in the Solar System

• Note the amazing diversity of objects in the
  solar system
• We include here planets, minor planets, and
  objects we cant make up our minds about

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Slide with Text and Figure(but with different
style)

• Note the amazing diversity of objects in the
  solar system
• We include here planets, minor planets, and
  objects we cant make up our minds about

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Slide with Text and Figure(but with different
style)

• Note the amazing diversity of objects in the
  solar system
• We include here planets, minor planets, and
  objects we cant make up our minds about

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Two Images Side-by-Side with Captions

• Neat Color-Color Slide

• Objects in the Solar System

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Title and Multiple FiguresArrange Them as you
Like
Heres a color-color plot from web
Carroll painting of Triton surface
Best Hubble Image of Pluto